PENGUINS WEEKLY – 3/24/26
With playoff spot clinched, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has nine games remaining
Penguins (39-16-6-2) test their mettle against North Division-leading Rocket on Star Wars Night this Saturday
Weekly Rewind
Wednesday, Mar. 18 – PENGUINS 1 at Laval 5
Gabe Klassen scored Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s only goal in its first meeting with the North Division-leading Rocket. As a result, the Penguins have lost five in a row at Place Bell, with their last victory in Laval coming on Jan. 13, 2018.
Friday, Mar. 20 – PENGUINS 2 at Belleville 1 (SO)
A 28-save night by Joel Blomqvist helped the Pens win a war of attrition against the Sens. Aidan McDonough logged a power-play goal in the middle frame, and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton went three-for-three in the shootout with strikes from McDonough, Klassen and Avery Hayes. Blomqvist denied the league’s top goal-scorer, Arthur Kaliyev, to earn his first AHL shootout win.
Sunday, Mar. 22 – PENGUINS 4 at Toronto 3
The Penguins constructed a commanding 4-0 lead, which proved to be important insurance after a third-period fright from the Marlies. Hayes and McDonough both secured one-goal, one-assist first periods, while Rafaël Harvey-Pinard lit the lamp twice, including the game-winner.
The Week Ahead
Saturday, Mar. 28 – PENGUINS vs. Laval
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton will attempt to shoot down the Rocket on Star Wars Night. The Penguins will be wearing specialty Mandalorian-themed uniforms for their rematch with Laval, a team that dispatched of the Black and Gold last week. The Rocket have never won in six visits to Northeast PA.
Sunday, Mar. 29 – PENGUINS vs. Lehigh Valley
It’s a quick turnaround to Sunday afternoon, where the Penguins kick off a run of three-straight games against their turnpike rival. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is 7-0-1-1 against Lehigh Valley this season. Furthermore, the Penguins are 23-3-4-3 (.803) in their last 33 regular-season tilts with the Phantoms.
Ice Chips
– Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s win on Friday clinched the 21st playoff appearance in franchise history.
– The Penguins are 24-7-2-1 (.750) on the road this season.
– Since the start of February, the Penguins are 15-for-61 on the power play, good for a 24.6% conversion rate.
– Aidan McDonough is on a career-best four-game point streak, gathering two goals and three assists in that time.
– Friday marked the fourth time in franchise history that the Penguins went three-for-three in a shootout, with the last instance coming on Oct. 19, 2019.
DIVISION STANDINGS
TEAM LEADERS
UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME
Sat, Mar. 28 Laval Mohegan Arena 6:05 p.m.
Sun, Mar. 29 Lehigh Valley Mohegan Arena 3:05 p.m.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
DATE PLAYER TRANSACTION
Mon, Mar. 16 (D) Jack St. Ivany Recalled to PIT
Mon, Mar. 16 (D) Alex Alexeyev Reassigned by PIT
Mon, Mar. 16 (D) Emil Pieniniemi Reassigned by PIT from WHL
Thu, Mar. 19 (D) Ryan Graves Recalled to PIT
Thu, Mar. 19 (RW) Avery Hayes Reassigned by PIT
Sun, Mar. 22 (LW) Ville Koivunen Reassigned by PIT
Tue, Mar. 24 (LW) Ville Koivunen Recalled to PIT
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